Moscow: Vladimir Putin has cancelled a series of scheduled appointments and meetings amid mounting speculation surrounding his failure to appear in public since July 1.
The last time the Russian president made a public appearance was at a summit in Finland, in which he warned the Kremlin could take action if the country joined Nato.
According to Russian news channel RBC, Mr Putin cancelled a meeting on tourism in Altai on 5 July, postponing it for an “indefinite period”.
When RBC tried to find out why, the leader’s “assistant receptionist” said he was on a business trip and would return on Monday.
He also failed to arrive to the opening ceremony he was supposed to attend on Wednesday at VI International Sports Games for the Children of Asia in Yakutia. This was blamed on the President having “a specific schedule that has the ability to change”.
